Question

6. How was the decision in Stanford v. Kentucky changed? Be sure to provide the name and a brief description of the congressional act, constitutional amendment, or subsequent Supreme Court ruling that overturned it. (2 points)

Answer 1

Stanford v. Kentucky, was a United States Supreme Court case in the year 1989 that sanctioned the imposition of the death penalty on offenders who were at least 16 years of age at the time of the crime.

The Supreme Court in the year 2005,while handling the Roper v. Simmons' case ruled that the death penalty is a disproportionate punishment for juveniles, and thus it violates the Eighth Amendment to impose a death sentence on a youthful murderer who committed the crime before age 18.

Christopher Simmons, who was 17 at the time, committed a crime that led to a death sentence.

The Court said that the society views juveniles as categorically less culpable than the average criminal. The supreme court argued than a man only becomes culpable of any criminal act when he reaches the age of 18, and claimed at imposing a death penalty on a young child who is not old enough to take charge of his own actions is wrong.

The supreme court claimed that a juvenile who committed a heinous crime can be made to forfeit his fundamental rights rather than being murdered.

Answer 2

Answer:

It was changed in Ropers v Simmons

Explanation:

• Stanford v Kentucky was a United States Supreme court case that authorized the imposition of death penalties to people who are 16 years and above at the time the crime was committed.

• Ropers v Simmons was a case in the U.S Supreme court which states that it was unconstitutional to enforce capital punishment for crimes committed while under 18 years. Christopher Simmons and his two friends murdered Shirley Cook and he confessed to committing the crime. The case was brought for trial and the appeal challenged the constitutionality of capital punishment for juveniles.

• The 5-4 decision in Ropers v Simmons overturned the decision in Stanford v Kentucky where offenders from 16 years were punished for crimes committed.